When a Honolulu police officer stopped him at a 7-Eleven store in Kaimuki just after midnight Oct. 19, 2006, the vending machine was in the front passenger seat of Kapololu's car. The officer stopped Kapololu because the car had a broken tail light and an expired registration and safety inspection sticker.

The officer ordered Kapololu to remove the box from his car. Inside were newspapers dated Oct. 18, 2006. Star-Bulletin officials told police the machine was stolen from its location at KFC Kapahulu restaurant that day.

Police also found a power cutting tool in Kapololu's car.

The newspaper boxes are secured with lock and chain.

Police said the lock to the machine's coin box had been tampered with.

Kapololu claims he found the vending machine on the sidewalk on 10th Avenue in Kaimuki.